Nutrition Lesson 4: What to Eat Before and After Exercise

What should I eat before my workout? How long should I wait after my meal to workout? When should I eat after my workout? What should I eat after? These are all SUCH good questions! 

First and foremost it’s important to eat foods that your body processes well. Pick meals that don’t give you indigestion and aren’t too heavy. You don’t want your stomach to be too full while exercising and you don’t want to have too much liquid in your belly either! 

Here’s a general guideline of when and what to eat before and after your workout.

When to eat:

Eat 1-2 hours before exercise:

Consume 2-4 cups of water during activity (.5-1 liter)

Consume 2-4 cups of water after activity

Consume 1-2 cups of water at each meal

Eat 1-2 hour after exercise

What to eat:

A mix of carbs and protein before and after exercise.

If you feel you might get hungry before or during your workout, I recommend a snack of fruit because it gives you a bit of energy but doesn’t keep your belly full and uncomfortable during the workout.